Singapore to Provide Nearly S$70,000 Support Per Child

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that every Singaporean child will receive approximately S$70,000 (US$55,140) in direct financial support by the time they turn 17. This new initiative, the SG Child Support Package, aims to provide more comprehensive support from birth through childhood.

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Taken together, every Singaporean child will receive almost S$70,000 in direct financial support as they grow up.

The package consolidates and replaces existing schemes like the Baby Bonus and Large Families Scheme, offering increased financial assistance. For instance, the firstborn child could receive S$42,000 more than under current schemes by age 17, while the third child could get an additional S$19,000. As of June 2026, over 610,000 children across 380,000 households are expected to benefit.

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The traditional family unit remains the prevailing social norm in Singapore. The government’s longstanding position has been to support parenthood within marriage. This continues to be the case and there is no shift in thinking on this.

Notably, the new scheme extends benefits to children from single-parent families, a departure from previous policies that primarily supported children of married parents. While the government maintains that the traditional family unit remains the social norm, it recognizes the importance of supporting every child's growth and development. Consequently, the financial support will be available to all Singaporean children, irrespective of their birth order, family circumstances, or their parents' marital status.

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As the benefits are intended to support the growth and development of children, they will be extended to all SC (Singapore citizen) children, regardless of birth order, family circumstances, or their parents’ marital status.

The SG Child Support Package also features a longer support duration, extending up to age 17, compared to the current age limit of 12. A significant portion of the support will be provided as cash, offering greater flexibility than the Child Development Accounts (CDAs). This shift aims to make the support more universal and less reliant on parents' ability to save into CDAs. Furthermore, the package ensures that every Singaporean child receives the same level of support, regardless of birth order, unlike the current system where higher birth orders receive more benefits.

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Ultimately, the decision to have children is a deeply personal one. Policies alone cannot make this happen. But what we can do is make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to start and raise a family.